We stopped by Walmart on the way home from church today and it was teeming with people! Thankfully, we weren’t in a hurry because we had the chance to visit with several of our friends and neighbors. Shortly after grabbing the first few items on our list I bumped into Ms. Sally from our church. “I just cannot find the crackers,” she mused.
“They are on the aisle labeled snacks,” I responded – and then just to make sure, I walked there with her. As soon as we rounded aisle 7, I could clearly see there were no crackers. I was standing there confused when another friend, Cheryl, walked by. “Where did the crackers go?” I inquired. “I was sure they were here.”
“They have been moved to the back where the drinks are,” she informed us. Ms. Sally wheeled off in search of her crackers. After a few moments she returned to report that she had found them.
Meanwhile, we stood and chatted with Cheryl and her husband. It was a great conversation, animated with sharing of family news and concerns for those in our community. I stood talking with my arms full of bread and soup and spaghetti sauce. In the midst of the conversation, a man excused himself as he interrupted. “Where did you find the bread?” he asked. He gestured to his family following him, “we are not from here and we don’t know where to find the bread.”
I smiled and gave directions, pointing with my free hand in the direction of the bread aisle. As I often do, (maybe it comes from years of teaching distracted teens) I repeated the directions to be sure I was clear. He and his wife expressed their gratitude and headed off to find the bread.
We continued in conversation, but after only a few moments, a former student, Eric, tapped me on the shoulder. “Since you are giving out directions,” he quipped, “can you help me find this?” He held out his cell phone to show me a photo of chicken bouillon.
“That is on the soup aisle,” I explained. I glanced at his expression and then lead him down the soup aisle. “Here is what you’re looking for,” I smiled as I handed him the jar. Returning back to my group I joked, “I guess I am the traffic director today!” Inside I thought, “hmmm – we have a theme!”
All around us people are looking for direction. I feel so blessed when I can point someone the right way. Whether it is where to find the bread, how to deal with their child’s addiction, or where to look in the Bible for words of hope, giving direction is one of the most honorable jobs. It implies that someone views me as approachable and available, they recognize my wisdom or knowledge, and they trust me to help them get there.
If we want to help with those searching for the right way, we must be approachable and available. Two of my encounters today came while I was in the midst of conversation. It wasn’t that I was not busy, but I had a smile on my face and I made eye contact with people as they walked by. If I wear an expression that says, “Don’t bother me!” then likely people won’t. I like to be interrupted – I want to be asked – I love to engage with people. I didn’t stand in the middle of the store with a sign that said, “Ask me!” But then again, I really did!
We must first know how to get there ourselves if we want to direct others. If we don’t know the way, we must simply ask someone who does. I don’t always know the answer, but I can usually find someone who knows. Part of being in the position to help is being willing to admit that I don’t have all of the answers! I knew where the crackers used to be, but it wasn’t hard to locate someone who was more familiar with the changes. Ms. Sally might not have asked Cheryl because she didn’t know her. I was simply the connector. Wisdom and knowledge is helpful, but true wisdom has as much of a desire to find the truth as it does to know the truth!
Finally, sometimes giving direction is not enough. Often, we need to walk along with someone until they reach their destination. People don’t always recognize what they need until it is taken from the shelf and placed in their hand. Something familiar and commonplace to me can seem foreign and out of reach for another. When asked, I must be willing to point the way and then lead the way.
I didn’t solve the problems of the world today, but the crackers, the bread, and bouillon were all found. I left Walmart with the items I came for and a sense of purpose. I am a traffic director – can I help you find your way?
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16